Connector



April 6, 1948. L. L.. MALLARD 2,439,176

CONNECTOR Filed Aug. 24. 1943 Patenied Apr. 6,1948

CONNECTOR Logan L. Mallard, Norfolk, Va., assignor of one-` half to Barry M. Wolf, Norfolk County, Va.

Application August 24, 1943, SerialNo. 499,832

1 Claim. A 1

This invention relates to connectors for wire or rod members, and an object of the same is to provide a device of this type which may be easily and quickly applied or installedand is of simple and economical construction.

Another and'more specific object is to provide a connector, and particularly an electrical connector, which may beheld between the thumb and forefinger, for example, of one hand and the desired connections made simply by pressing on opposite ends of the connector, and inserting the wires with the free hand.

Another object is to provide a connector adapted for'emergency repair as well as for easy and quick connections in laboratory work and the like, the devicebeing small and compact so that any desirednumber may be carried in a tool kit or box ready for use whenever desired.

The foregoing objects and advantages will be-H come apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a connector in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2, a view in section and elevation on a side opposite tothat of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a substantially central longitudinal section of the connector of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4, a, view in side elevation f a modication; and l Fig. 5, substantially central longitu-dinal sectional view of Fig. 4. y Referring to the drawings in detail, the connector of Figs. l, 2 and 3 comprises an elongated shell or housing l0 which in the example shown is madeup of a metallic conducting liner ID" covered(- with suitable insulating material Ill". The shell I0, however, may be made of any suitable material, either conducting or non-conducting, it only being necessary that it have suflicient rigidity to avoid bending or collapse when the connector is operated. Suitable materials include sheet metal, cast metal, plastics, dielectrics, hard rubber and the like.

The opposite ends of the shell are similarly constructed, each end being punched for insertion of a pair of eyelets II, II' deninga hole or opening I2 for the wire to be connected. The eyelets I I, I I' may be secured in Xed position by crimping the metal of the shell as indicated at i3. The eyelets II and II are spaced apart or separated at an intermediate point, and an insulated plunger I4 is projected into the open end of the shell between the eyelets, said plunger being formed with lateral projections or shoulders I5 which slide in a guideway I6 made by deforming `2 or pinching the shell in this region, note Fig. 3. A hole or suitable opening I'I is formed .in each plunger 'I4 and Ais adapted to register with the openings I2 deiined by the eyelets II when the plunger is pressed to its inner position. The inner end of the plunger is formed with a tapered or pointed stud I8, and a spring I9 is interposed between the plungers with the opposite ends thereof engaging over said studs. A iinger piece '2B is :formed on theouter en-d of each of the plungers I4 and is preferably knurledk or roughened to` prevent slippage when engaged by the fingers. I v

`Since the assembly at each end of the connector is the saine, the ,foregoing description of pnewill suice for both. f

In making and assemblingY the connector, the shell or body IG may be first slightlyfattened at its opposite ends, then punched or perforated for insertionand securement of the eyelets Il,A II', whereupon the spring I9 and'plungers I4 may be inserted within the open ,ends of the housing and the latter crimped or deformed to provide the slideways I6 andalso to provide stop shoulders 2l which engage over the lateral projections I5 of the plungers to prevent the latter from moving cutof the housing. If desired, one of' the plungers may first be assembled in` one end of the housing, the spring I9 then inserted, and the other plunger mounted in the opposite end of the housing.- Y It will be obvious that other methods of manufacture and assembly may be adopted, depending upon the characteristics of the/shell I0 and coa'cting parts. For example, theshell could be molded and the plungers made 'in sections to permit their :assembly after the molding operation. The manner in which the improved connector operates will be obvious.' A user may grasp one ofthe connectors between the thumband forefinger of one hand and press the plungers inwardly to bring the holes 2| in registration with the holes I2, whereupon thewires to be connected may be inserted with the free hand, one of `such wires being indicated at W in Fig. 3. -When the plungers are released, they .are pressed outwardly by the spring I9 and rmly clamp or hold the wires in connected relation.

In the form shown the device serves as an electrical connector, current being conducted from the wire or wires W through the metallic part I0 of the shell I0, but since both the shell and plungers are insulated, there is no danger of shock to the user. However if the connector iS t@ be used as an insulator, or to prevent conduction of electricity between the Wires to be connected, the shell I may be made of insulating material, such as hard rubber Bakelite, and the like.

The plungers lli will always move inwardly when pressure is applied on opposite ends of the device, and such movement will besubstantially uniform since an equalization of pressure takes place, or the pressure'is balanced .ordist-ributed by the spring I9.

The connector may obviously be made in any desired sizes, that illustrated in the drawings being enlarged to more clearly show the parts thereof.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the same'principleiof .operation is obtained as in Figs. 1, f2 and :Blbut with a modied structure. In thisinstan-ce the .connector comprises a body member 'in the form o'i a central bar or link 22 having end caps 23 :and 23' slidingly mounted on opposite ends thereof, the links preferably Vbeing .laterally enlarged at .opposite ends, or extended laterally to provide shouldered portions 22 and 22". These enlarged -ends Vare formed with holes or openings 24 and .25, vthe opening 424 being ofsrnallerdiameter than the opening -25 to `illustrate how .-.theconnectors may -be adapted .for wires yof diierent diameters. The end Vcaps 23 -and v23' are valso formed .with holes or `openings 26 cand .21 which are respec- -tively adapted to register with the holes or open- .ingsg24 and .25 when the .said caps are .pressed t0 their inner positions. A V.spring 28' -is disposed on the link 22 between the shoulders .de- Yned by the enlarged ends 4of the link. To pre-- `venti-the -end lcaps from -moVing Yoi the link, vthe latter is formed with elongated slots 28 .and .23, and Vthe said `caps are provided with Apins r30 .and 3| which are Aiixed ltherein and passy through said Lslots. The slots .are obviously of vsuch 'length as to permit the required sliding move- `menof the end caps. k

The'end caps umay be formed of a single .piece `or length of `material Yhaving .the opposite ends reduced toV provide stop shoulders 32 andthe piece then punched Vfor-the holes 2 6 and .2;1 vand ,bent upon itself, orbent-.double-.sothat the openings therein, register; andgli-kewise the link ,22

vmay be -stampedfrom afsingle piece of material in oneoperation. The end capsmay be open .or

closed vat the sides, the V.cap ..23 Vbeing shown closed and the cap 23 being shown open, .note

Fig. 5.

To Vassemble the device of Figs. 4 and ,5, .it is .only necessaryto insertone of lthe .end caps over the adjacent end -of Athe link `then apply the .cross pin 30 or 3|, whereupon .the spring 2,8 `may `be -appliedand the opposite cap mountedpn vthe link; and the device is ready for use.

.The connector 4of Figs. 4 and 5 operates in substantially the Ysame manner as .the fconnector of Figs. 1, 2 and-3, pressure on opposite -ends Yof the connector causing the end caps to yslide inwardly against the Acompressive force .of

spring 28 and bring the openings or holes .2.4 and Y25 in registration -with the holes .26 .and 2.1. Wires `may then be .inserted nthese .ho1esand 4 when the end caps are released, said wires are automatically clamped or engaged by the said caps and opposite ends of the link.

Both forms of the device are easy to operate and are simple and economical in construction. The fact that pressure may be applied simultaneously on opposite ends of the connector to operate same, permits the use of a spring of considerable strength, since Vthe person operating .the connector is less likely 'to let -loose of the device than is the case where the operation is car- ,ried on by pressing one end at a time, or in reverse or lateral directions.

This type of connector also has certain advantages :over the `sin-called slip type lconnector :wherein the l.wires or parts to be connected are inserted by .pressure, although the slip type and that lllustra'tedherein have uses peculiar to differentbtypes of installations.

It will be understood that limited changes in .construction .and `design may be .adopted without .departing from .thescope 4of the .invention lasdefined vby the yappended claim.

What .is claimed .isz

A connector comprising a .one piece Ygenerally engaging portions -on the .Outer endsV of said plungers, `axial Yprojections von .the inner ends .of Vsaid .plungers a compression spring received `on said projections and tending to urge .said plungers outwardly ...of .said housing against said portions constructed and .arranged to register with the lapertures ln said plungers upon inward vmovement thereof whereby wires inserted in said apertures will be v.clamped therein by the action Aof said .compression spring. y

LOGAN L. vM'ALlrAltl).

.REFERENCES CITED The `following references .are .of record .in 'the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES JPA'IEN'IS `Great Britan. Mar. 15, 1923 

